Town to Move Forward with Water, Sewer Hikes

After a second public hearing, Vienna Town Council voted this week to move ahead with water and sewer increases that will add $140 to residents' average water bills and put the town's rates among the highest in Northern Virginia.

The unanimous vote came with a pledge to continue exploring options to keep costs down, including buying water at a better rate and continuing discussions about whether the town should keep or sell its system.

The rates, which will officially be adopted May 21 along with the , will move from $3.84 to $4.75 per thousand gallons for water and $5.73 to $6.66 per thousand gallons for sewer, increases of 23 and 16 percent respectively.

Compared with charges in nearby jurisdictions, Vienna will have the second highest water rate and the third highest sewer rate when rates take effect July 1. For customers who live within town boundaries, the combined rate is $11.41,
an increase of $1.84. For customers who live outside the Town but are in the Town’s water service area, the quarterly increase would be $10.07 or $40.28 annually, based on the town's decision to also equalize rates starting this year.

The town will see just more than a $1 million increase in water purchase and sewage treatment costs over the next year alone, Payton said at a meeting earlier this year. To keep up with an aging system, the town also needs to spend an average of $1.3 million to $1.9 million a year for a total of

Mayor Jane Seeman said this week Town Manager Mercury Payton and other officials were in talks with Fairfax Water "almost daily" about the issue of cheaper water, but declined to elaborate, citing ongoing discussions. 

The town currently buys water from the City of Falls Church, which is looking to sell its system.

Town Attorney Steve Briglia said there are several factors to consider than rates alone. For instance, hooking into Fairfax Water is on average $4,000 to $5,000 more expensive per house than buying into the current system, he said at Monday's council meeting.

"It's a complicated rate structure," Briglia said.

Councilwoman said she feels good about the progress Payton, Briglia and Finance Director Phil Grant have made about the issue. She said she has been concerned about the sustainability of the town's water system since she was elected to the council in 2002, and in the past, has voted against water rate increases.

In 2010, she and Councilman voted against raising the town's water rate, saying they were worried about rising rates and the cost of maintaining the system in the long term, concerns echoed by several other council members since.

While those problems persist, a yes vote "was a reflection of my appreciation of their work and progress to date," Kelleher said.

Vienna residents Osama Amad, who addressed the council , again asked the council to move finding a different water source to the top of its priority list.

"It affects our babies, our kids, and especially since the higher quality from [Fairfax Water] is actually cheaper, we urge you to really consider this seriously," Amad said. "It's about time that we get better quality water."

"We want you to convince us we're really getting the best deal," he said.

The Council is expected to formally adopt the rates at its meeting 8 p.m. May 21 in the Vienna Town Hall.

For a chart comparing rates with neighboring jurisdictions, view the chart in the media player above.

The combined rate increase amount has been adjusted.